Report of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Internal Affairs of ...

Official Document, No. 10.
SEVENTH BITIilllNOliS
ALLEGHENY AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.
IIISTRICT.
Idlewood, Pa., February 14, 1898.
Hon. James \V. Latta, !r>ecretary of Internal Affairs:
Sir: In compliance with the requirements of the Bituminous Mining
Act, approved May 15, 1893, 1 herewith submit my annual report of the
inspection of the mines of the Seventh bituminous district for the year
ending December 31, 1897.
I am glad to be able to report that the mines in this district are,
with but few exceptions, in reasonably good condition, both as regards
ventilation and other matters relative to health and safety.
At several mines where I had good reason to complain of the ventilation
being inadequate, new ventilating fans have been provided and
the quantity of air increased, to conform with legal and sanitary requirements.
The number of lives lost in and about the mines of this district
during the year was 22, and the number of persons injured, 58. The
most prolific cause of the accidents—both fatal and non-fatal—was
from falls of slate and roof. Eighteen fatal and 31 non-fatal accidents
being due to this cause. A description of each fatality is
given in another part of the report. Any comments I might make in
this connection would be only a repetition of what has been said in
previous reports, and I will only add that the number of deaths and
personal injuries are not excessive, when taking into
consideration
the dangerous roof conditions attending the mining of coal in
this
district; also, the very large number of unskilled miners employed,
who are not competent to detect or to protect themselves from the
dangers incident to mining; in fact, it is surprising to me and many
others who are familar with the prevailing conditions, that the
number of accidents are not more numerous. Notwithstanding the
fact that nearly 00 per cent, of the mines in this district generate explosive
gas, tliciv was no fatal and only four non-fatal accidents due
to explosions of gas, which speaks volumes in favor of the constant
vigilance displayed by the mine officials.
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